Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EASY-CLEAN FOOD BASTER
Technical Field Of The Invention
The present device relates to a food baster. Specifically, the present device
relates to a food baster which provides access to the inner cavity for ease of
cleaning.
Background Of The Invention
Food basters are common household devices, generally used in cooking but
also utilized in a variety of other household tasks requiring a manually-
operated
suction device. When used as part of the basting cooking method, a baster is
integral
in maintaining a food's moisture by periodically redistributing juices
released by the
food, or introducing external moisture such as through the application of
sauces,
broths, or marinades.
There exist variations on the basic bulb suction food baster design as
disclosed
in U.S. Patent No. 2,234,884, including a design which allows for the device
to be
attached to a canned beverage, disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,575,651.
However,
existing food basters suffer from a shared deficiency which limits access to
the cavity
into which fluids are suctioned.
Existing baster designs require users to clean the baster through suctioning
water with detergent into the cavity, or submerging the device in a cleaning
fluid. This
method of cleaning, however, cannot ensure that all particulates are removed
from the
cavity. The problem exhibited by these baster designs can lead to serious
health
implications, as
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failure to properly clean the inside of the device, particularly when
involving raw meat
juices, can enable harmful bacteria to proliferate and be redistributed upon
the next use of
the device.
The present invention is intended to address this and other possible problems
associated with existing food basters.
Summary Of The Invention
There is disclosed herein an improved food baster which avoids the
disadvantages
of prior devices while affording additional structural and operating
advantages. The
elongated tubular body is comprised of at least two segments for providing
access to the
inner cavity. At opposing ends of the elongated tubular body is a squeezable
suction
device and an open-ended tip.
In one embodiment of the food baster, the plurality of segments comprising the
elongated tubular body are connected by a living hinge. It is an aspect of one
embodiment of the food baster that the living hinge allows for separation of
the segments
while preserving the unity of the elongated tubular body.
It is another aspect of one embodiment of the food baster that a removable
squeezable suction device attaches to one end of the elongated tubular body.
It is a
further aspect of one embodiment of the food baster that a removable open-
ended tip
attaches to an end of the elongated tubular body opposing the squeezable
suction device.
Finally, it is another aspect of one embodiment of the food baster that the
squeezable suction device and the open-ended tip, either in combination or
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independently, serve to lock the plurality of segments comprising the
elongated tubular
body.
These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from
the
following description and the appended drawings.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought
to be
protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments
thereof, from
an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following
description,
the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and
many of its
advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present food baster;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the open and disassembled embodiment of the
food baster as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is another exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;
and
FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 of the food
baster in the open and disassembled condition.
Detailed Description Of Preferred Embodiments
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms,
there
is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred
embodiment of
the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be
considered as an
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exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to
limit the broad
aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is illustrated a food baster, generally
designated by
the numeral 20. The food barter 20 is comprised of an elongated tubular body
22, a
squeezable suction device 28, and an open-ended tip 34.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the elongated tubular body 22 is comprised of at least
two
body segments 24 which form a cavity 26. In one embodiment of the present food
baster,
the body segments 24 are attached along adjacent longitudinal edges 42 by a
living hinge
36. The living hinge 36 prevents the body segments 24 from becoming entirely
separated
from each other, as might occur during the washing process or in storing the
food baster
after washing. However, the food barter 20 may also be manufactured and
operated
without a living hinge 36. Additionally, more than one living hinge 36 may be
distributed along the adjacent longitudinal edges 42.
With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the interaction between the body segments 24 can
be
more readily understood. When the food baster 20 is in the closed position,
the body
segments 24 are fitted together to form a seal 50 along the meeting
longitudinal edges 42.
This fitting may be accomplished through a friction fit, as shown in the
embodiments
depicted in FIGS. 2-3. This fitting may also be accomplished by other means
known to
those having ordinary skill in the art, including interaction between the body
segments 24
by a tongue and groove fit, a detent and recess fit, or by incorporating a
sleeve (not
shown) which may fit over the body segments 24 to help form a seal 50.
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A user may separate the body segments 24 by simultaneously applying diametric
pressure to each of two protrusions 46 from the meeting longitudinal edges 44
of the
body segments 24. While only two body segments 24 are illustrated in FIGS. 2-
4,
persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that numerous body
segments 24
5 may be provided to form the elongated tubular body 22 such that the body
segments 24
are fitted together to form a seal 50 in the same manner as with two body
segments 24.
FIGS. 2-4 illustrate an embodiment of the food baster 20 where the squeezable
suction device 28 and the open-ended tip 34 are removable from the elongated
tubular
body 22. The squeezable suction device 28 engages a proximal male portion 38
of the
elongated tubular body 22. It is an aspect of one embodiment of the food
baster 20 that
the squeezable suction device 28 is attached to the proximal male portion 38
of the
elongated tubular body 22 through interaction of at least one bulb detent 52
and
corresponding bulb recess 54. The squeezable suction device 28 may
alternatively
engage the proximal male portion 38 by providing a threaded inner bulb surface
60
corresponding to a threaded proximal male portion 38. Alternative means of
engaging
the squeezable suction device 28 with the proximal male portion 38 known to
those
having ordinary skill in the art could be envisioned, including where the
squeezable
suction device 28 slides over the proximal male portion 38 to enclose the
cavity 26.
One aspect of an embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes a squeezable suction
device 28 comprising a rigid rim 30 and a flexible dome 32. In this aspect,
the flexible
dome 32 fits upon the lip 48 of the rigid rim 30 to form a seal. In operation,
a user
applies pressure to the flexible dome 32 to create a suction through the
elongated tubular
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body 22. The squeezable suction device 28 may also be fashioned as a unitary
squeezable bulb, as two flexible domes fitted onto a rigid ring, or as any
other means for
creating a suction through the elongated tubular body 22.
Similarly, the open-ended tip 34 engages a distal male portion 40 of the
elongated
tubular body 22. In one aspect of an embodiment of the food baster 20, the
open-ended
tip 34 is attached to the distal male portion 40 of the elongated tubular body
22 through
interaction of at least one tip detent 56 and corresponding tip recess 58. The
open-ended
tip 34 may alternatively engage the distal male portion 40 by providing a
threaded inner
tip surface 62 corresponding to a threaded distal male portion 40. Alternative
means of
engaging the open-ended tip 34 with the distal male portion 40 known to those
having
ordinary skill in the art could be envisioned, including where the open-ended
tip 34 slides
over the distal male portion 40.
Although the food baster 20 depicted in FIGS. 2-4 illustrates a removable
squeezable suction device 28 and removable open-ended tip 34, persons having
ordinary
skill in the art will understand that these segments need not be removable.
Rather, the
body segments 24 of the elongated tubular body 22 may be designed to swing
over and fit
into both or either the squeezable suction device 28 and removable open-ended
tip 34,
respectively.
The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is
offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular
embodiments
have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that changes
and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of
applicants'
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contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be
defined in the
following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior
art.
